The Weekender Sign up

We'll help you plan your best summer yet with our annual roundup of can't miss events! Plus we've got a Face the Music interview with vocal powerhouse Josh Groban who is performing in Portland on 6/24. And as always, we'll help you have a terrific weekend with our hand-picked selection of events. Have fun out there!

About The Author

Carla Jean Lauter

Carla Jean Lauter is a craft beer lover and investigator of all things beer. She started a craft beer website and blog thebeerbabe.com in 2007, sharing her thoughts as she explored what was new in beer, as well as brewery visits, trips and "beer adventures." Moving to Portland in 2009, she found herself surrounded by the Maine beer community and has been exploring it ever since.
In her blog, Carla profiles craft beer (and some mead and cider, too) being brewed in Maine, as well as looks into the people, places and stories behind the beer that makes the community so vibrant. Join Carla on her beer adventures and advice on where to get the best, newest, and most interesting fermented drinks around.
Carla can be contacted at askthebeerbabe [at] gmail.com or on twitter at @beerbabe.
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Hoppy Happenings

Hey all – every Wednesday I’ll be updating you on what’s up in beer in Maine in “Hoppy Happenings” including events, beer releases and more.

Oxbow brewing releases a ‘Grisette’

It’s okay, I didn’t know what it was either. Oxbow Brewing Company will be releasing Grizacca this week, and is a beer style known as a Grisette. A Grisette is a style of beer that originated in southern Belgium. It’s typically a bit lighter than a saison, and was consumed mostly by working-class people. This “American version” features lots of hops. The beer’s info describes it as being “aromatic and flavorful” with notes of “citrus” and “fresh cut grass.” In a farmhouse-style ale, that grassy thing isn’t weird, it’s a good thing. So look for this on taps this week – and expect a light and enjoyably hopped farmhouse ale. I haven’t had this yet, but am looking forward to finding out where it is on tap.

Baxter Brewing Turns 3, Plans Music-Filled Bash

This weekend marks the 3rd Anniversary for Baxter Brewing Company (wow, three years already?) and they’ll be celebrating it with gusto this Saturday from 12-4pm at the brewery. In addition to releasing a new beer – On the Count of 3 – they’ll have live music (Mallet Brothers, Sly Chi & Dave Rowe and Spose!) and an open house so you can check out the expanded brewery. The new brew is described as an “imperial hefeweizen” which, I will admit, is a new one on me. 7.0% ABV and dosed with extra West Coast hops? Sounds neat! In addition, be on the lookout for the Backpack variety 12-packs that contain a mix of seasonal and year-round brews.

D. L. Geary Brewing teases about canning

Speaking of cans… This little photo (right) popped up on D. L. Geary Brewing Company‘s Facebook page today. It appears to show a can – not bottle – of Geary’s Pale Ale. Entering the canned beer market would be a good move for the well-established brewery because of the plentiful recreational opportunities in the state, especially over the summer. They’d join the ranks* of Baxter Brewing, Shipyard Brewing Company and Marshall WharfBrewing Company in offering these cans – though no official availability information or release dates has been announced – yet.

*Update: I forgot they canned the Summer ale for the first time last year.

Frostbite Road Race Gets Funky (Bow)

The slightly insane-looking 2.5K known as the Longfellow February Frostbite Road Race has gotten sponsorship from Funky Bow Brewery and Beer Company. The race, commemorating Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 207th birthday, will be held on February 16th, will feature the release of Odin’s Wraith Ale. According to Funky Bow, the name comes from a Longfellow poem, “The Wraith of Odin.” Growlers of the beer will be donated as prizes for this chilly trek down Congress Street – an apt reward for such a frosty feat.

Do What’s Right – for the Kitties

Continuing their dedication to philanthropy and community involvement, Maine Beer Company in Freeport will be hosting another Do What’s Right Night on February 12th (maybe a good pre-valentine’s day date?) from 5 to 7pm. The $30 ticket – there are only 25 available – gets you in, lets you drink all the beer you’d like, as well as some snacks and a full brewery tour. They don’t normally do tours on the floor at Maine Beer, so it’s a special treat. 100% of the ticket cost will go to the Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine (HART of ME). Tickets: here.

Let me know if you have any to add each week by dropping me a line on twitter (@beerbabe) or via email (askthebeerbabe@gmail.com). Cheers!